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Wrongly accused WWII troops to get back pay

Black World War II soldiers wrongly convicted of murder and inciting a riot at Fort Lawton, Wash., will receive back pay with interest after having their paychecks cut as punishment in 1945.

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., announced that President Bush had signed a bill Oct. 14 that would award back pay plus interest to any service member who was owed back pay due to a correction of military records.

The bill came after Jack Hamann wrote a book called “On American Soil” detailing the killing of an Italian prisoner of war by a white American soldier because the Italian had been flirting with American women on post. Italian prisoners of war were allowed to roam freely at the time.

The American soldier tried to cover up the murder — the Italian was hung from a tree — by starting a fight between other Italian POWs and black American soldiers who were in a barracks adjacent to where the prisoners were being held.

In a quick trial, three black soldiers were convicted of murder and 40 were convicted of rioting. Many were sent to prison, and most were dishonorably discharged. Hamann’s book showed the men were innocent and that the evidence against them was flimsy at best.

“Justice has prevailed, but more than that, the dignity, courage and honor lived by Samuel Snow, Booker Townsell and other African-American soldiers throughout a half century of racial injustice will write a new chapter in American history that children will learn about for generations to come,” McDermott said. “While no amount of money can ever repay the lost opportunities endured by these African-American soldiers, they would be the first to say it was never about money; it was always about equal protection under the law for everyone in America.”

The new bill allows the secretary of defense to pay interest on back pay, which had previously been illegal.

Related reading:

Honor finally restored to 23 WWII soldiers

Army apologizes over convictions of black WWII soldiers

WWII vet lives long enough to see justice